By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new event coming to the city combines the creativity of the Rock River Anything That Floats Race with the simplicity of sledding down a hill.
It’s called the Cardboard Classic, and it’s scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Snow Park at Alpine Hills, 4402 Larson Ave. Competitors are challenged to engineer the fastest — or most creatively designed — cardboard sled they can to descend the snow-covered hill in central Rockford.
“The visual of it is the raft race on snow,” said Katy Chadwick, director of fulfillment at Mid-West Family Broadcasting, which is putting on the event with Allen Heating & Cooling and the Mid-West Family radio stations B103, 95.3 The Bull, 100 FM and 104.9 The X. Mid-West Family is also the parent company of the Rock River Current.
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The Rock River Anything That Floats Race, a do-it-yourself boat race tradition with origins dating back to 1976, made its return last summer for the first time since 2019. Raft race designs ranged from a pirate ship to a Malibu Barbie car and Super Mario-themed paddle boat.
Chadwick, who is also part of the raft race event committee, hopes to see the creativity on display on the Rock River taken to the snow for the inaugural Cardboard Classic.
“The creativity of what someone can build for the vessel itself is unlimited,” she said. “You can go as simple as you like to participate, or you can spend some time crafting something that is unique and a spectacle.”
You don’t need to collect your own cardboard to build your sled. Participants who sign up can get supplies provided by Midwest Packaging and Container.
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Cardboard trophies created by Midwest Packaging will go to the fastest sled/best engineers. There will also be awards for Best Costumes, Most Creative/Judge’s Choice, Crowd Favorite and Favorite Fail.
“If something goes awry, or someone’s craft really comes apart in a funny – or, I guess, not so funny way – they have the ability to be awarded for that,” Chadwick said.
The event also doubles as a fundraiser for Mosaic, a nonprofit that helps support people with intellectual disabilities.
Alpine Hills has machines to create snow, so long as it’s cold enough, if Mother Nature doesn’t provide the cover by race day.
Sign up | Cardboard Classic 2024
Where: Snow Park at Alpine Hillls, 4402 Larson Ave., Rockford
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18 (race starts at noon)
How much: $45 per entry
Info: For the officials rules, or to register or get more information go HERE.
Cardboard pickup: Pickup is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 8 through Feb. 9 at Midwest Packaging & Container, 9718 Forest Hills Road, Machesney Park.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas